Printer and tablet

ABSTRACT

A printer of the present invention includes a first printing device capable of performing printing on a face facing one side in an orthogonal direction to a conveyance direction of a tablet while being conveyed and a second printing device capable of performing printing on a face facing the other side in the orthogonal direction of the tablet while being conveyed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the United States national phase of InternationalApplication No. PCT/JP2013/069263 filed Jul. 16, 2013, and claimspriority to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2012-160729 and2012-160720, filed Jul. 19, 2012, the disclosures of which are herebyincorporated in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printer performing printing on atablet. Further, the present invention relates to a tablet that ismanufactured using the printer.

2. Background Art

Conventionally, printers have been known which perform printing on anobject such as a tablet and a candy. Such a printer includes a conveyingdevice which conveys an object and a printing device which performsprinting on one face of the object to be conveyed (for example, PatentLiterature 1). With such a printer, the printing device performsprinting on one face of the object, and thus, printing is continuouslyperformed on a plurality of objects while being conveyed.

However, the printer according to Patent Literature 1 can performprinting on only one face of the conveyed object, and can performneither printing on the both faces of the object while being conveyednor perform printing on a desired one out of a face facing one side anda face facing the other side of the object while being conveyed.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP-A-7-81050

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of thesecircumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide aprinter which can perform printing on both faces of the tablet whilebeing conveyed or can perform printing on a desired one out of a facefacing one side and a face facing the other side of the tablet whilebeing conveyed.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a tableton which printing is performed on at least one face out of one side andthe other side.

Means for Solving Problems

The printer according to the present invention includes a conveyingdevice that conveys a tablet, a first printing device capable ofperforming printing on a face facing one side in an orthogonal directionto a conveyance direction of a tablet while being conveyed, and a secondprinting device capable of performing printing on a face facing theother side in the orthogonal direction of the tablet while beingconveyed.

According to this configuration, the conveying device conveys a tablet.The first printing device can perform printing on the face facing theone side in the orthogonal direction of the tablet while being conveyed,and the second printing device can perform printing on the face facingthe other side in the orthogonal direction of the tablet while beingconveyed. Whereby, the printer can perform printing on the both faces ofthe tablet while being conveyed, or can perform printing on a desiredone face out of the face facing the one side and the face facing theother side of the tablet while being conveyed.

There is a case where the tablet has a groove-shaped dividing line fordividing the tablet on at least one face out of the face facing the oneside and the face facing the other side. In this case, it is preferablethat the first printing device and the second printing device performprinting at a position excluding (while avoiding printing on) thedividing line.

According to the above-described configuration, a symbol, or the like,is printed while a dividing line or a portion corresponding to thedividing line of the tablet is excluded from a portion on which printingis to be performed. Whereby, it is possible to prevent the printedsymbol, or the like, from being divided when the tablet is divided alongthe dividing line.

Further, the printer includes an aligning section that supplies aplurality of tablets to the conveying device in a state where theplurality of tablets are aligned in the conveyance direction. In thiscase, the conveying device preferably has a dividing line directionaligning section that is disposed at an upstream side of the firstprinting device and the second printing device and that aligns adirection of the dividing line of each tablet in a predetermineddirection.

According to the above-described configuration, a plurality of tabletsare supplied to printing positions of the printing devices (the firstprinting device and the second printing device) in such a manner thatthe dividing lines of the tablets are aligned in a given direction(predetermined direction) and the tablets are aligned in the conveyancedirection. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate continuous printingof symbols, or the like, at predetermined positions relative to thedividing lines on the plurality of tablets.

The dividing line direction aligning section may have a protrusion whichextends in the conveyance direction and which has a cross-sectionalshape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the dividing line ofthe tablet and a contact body which rotates the tablet around thepredetermined axis facing in the orthogonal direction, the tablet beingplaced on the protrusion such that, out of the face facing the one sideand the face facing the other side, a face on which the dividing line isprovided contacts the protrusion, and a direction of the dividing lineis different from a direction of the protrusion.

By rotating the tablet which is placed on the protrusion such that theface on which the dividing line is provided contacts the protrusion andthe direction of the dividing line is different from the direction ofthe protrusion, around the axis, when a direction in which theprotrusion extends coincides with a direction in which the dividing lineextends, the protrusion is fitted into the dividing line. Whereby, thetablet is brought into locking engagement with the protrusion, whichprevents further rotation, so that it is possible to align the directionof the dividing line of each tablet in the direction of the protrusion.

Further, the printing device may further include a first image pickupdevice which picks up an image of the face facing the one side of eachtablet while being conveyed and a second image pickup device which picksup an image of the face facing the other side of each tablet while beingconveyed. In this case, the dividing line direction aligning section mayrotate each tablet while being conveyed around the predetermined axisfacing in the orthogonal direction such that the direction of thedividing line becomes the predetermined direction based on at least oneof the image pickup results of the first image pickup device and thesecond image pickup device.

As described above, it is also possible to align the direction of thedividing line of each tablet in a predetermined direction by thedividing line direction aligning section rotating the tablet based onthe image pickup result.

In the printer, the first printing device prints a first symbol in afirst region at one side with respect to the dividing line or theportion which corresponds to the dividing line and prints a secondsymbol different from the first symbol in a second region at the otherside on the face facing the one side.

The second printing device prints the second symbol in a regioncorresponding to the first region and prints the first symbol in aregion corresponding to the second region on the face facing the otherside.

According to the above-described configuration, on the tablet on whichprinting is performed by the printer, the both symbols of the firstsymbol and the second symbol are printed at either divided piece whenthe tablet is divided at the position of the dividing line.

Further, on the tablet according to the above-described embodiment,printing is performed on at least one face out of a face facing the oneside and a face facing the other side using any of the printersdescribed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a printer according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a first conveying section and its surroundingsof the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged bottom view of the first conveying sectionof the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the printer according to theembodiment, taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a second conveying section and itssurroundings of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a printer according to another embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged bottom view of a first conveying sectionof a printer according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the printer according to theembodiment, taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an overall front view of a printer according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a printer according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a partial enlarged front view of a first conveying section ofthe printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a partial enlarged bottom view of the first conveying sectionof the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a partial enlarged bottom view of a first conveying sectionof a printer according to yet another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 22 is a partial enlarged front view of a first conveying section ofthe printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a partial enlarged plane view of a first conveying section ofa printer according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the printer according tothe embodiment, taken along line XXV-XXV in FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the printer according tothe embodiment, taken along line XXVI-XXVI in FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a plane view of a first conveying section of a printeraccording to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a partial enlarged plane view of the first conveying sectionof the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the printer according tothe embodiment, taken along line XXIX-XXIX in FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a partial enlarged plane view of a first conveying section ofa printer according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the printer according tothe embodiment, taken along line XXXI-XXXI in FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a plane view of a tablet on which printing is performed by aprinter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a bottom view of the tablet on which printing is performed bythe printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tablet on whichprinting is performed by the printer according to the embodiment, takenalong line XXXIV-XXXIV in FIG. 32.

FIG. 35 is a plane view of a tablet according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 36 is a bottom view of the tablet according to the embodiment.

FIG. 37 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tablet according tothe embodiment, taken along line XXXVII-XXXVII in FIG. 35.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of a printer according to the present invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8. It should be notedthat, in the present embodiment, an object on which printing is to beperformed is a tablet 1 having a groove-shaped dividing line 11 fordividing the tablet 1 on one face.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer according to the presentembodiment includes a conveying unit 2 that conveys a tablet 1, ahousing 3 that holds the conveying unit 2, a first image pickup printingunit 4 that picks up an image of a face facing one side (lower face inthe present embodiment) in an orthogonal direction (up-down direction inFIG. 1) to a conveyance direction (rightward in FIG. 1) of the tablet 1while being conveyed and performs printing on the face, and a secondimage pickup printing unit 5 that picks up an image of a face facing theother side (upper face in the present embodiment) in the orthogonaldirection of the tablet 1 while being conveyed and performs printing onthe face. Further, the printer includes a control unit (control section)6 that controls each component of the printer and checks the tablet 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the conveying unit 2 includes a storage device21 that stores tablets 1 supplied from an upstream side, a carryingdevice 22 that carries the tablets 1 stored in the storage device 21 inan aligned manner, a conveying device 23 that conveys the receivedtablets 1, and a discharging device 26 that discharges the conveyedtablets 1 to a downstream side. Further, the conveying unit 2 includes arejecting device 27 that rejects a predetermined tablet 1 so as toprevent the predetermined tablet 1 from discharging from the dischargingdevice 26.

The storage device 21 stores inside the tablets 1 supplied from aboveand discharges the stored tablets 1 from a lower part. The carryingdevice 22 includes a carrying belt 221 which has a portion along adirection X in which the tablets 1 are conveyed (hereinafter, referredto as a “conveyance direction”) at an upper part and which rotatesendlessly, and an aligning section 222 that aligns the tablets 1 placedon the carrying belt 221 in a plurality of lines (four lines in thepresent embodiment). Whereby, the carrying device 22 can supply thetablets 1 aligned in a plurality of lines to the conveying device 23.

The conveying device 23 includes a first conveying section 24 thatconveys the tablets 1 in the conveyance direction X while contacting anupper side of the tablets 1, and a second conveying section 25 which islocated at a downstream side of the first conveying section 24 and whichconveys the tablets 1 in the conveyance direction X while contacting alower side of the tablets 1. It should be noted, though not illustrated,a plurality of the conveying devices 23 (for example, four conveyingdevices 23 in the present embodiment) are aligned according to thenumber of lines of the tablets 1 aligned at the carrying device 22. Inassociation with this, a plurality of image pickup printing units 4 and5 (for example, each of four image pickup printing units in the presentembodiment) are aligned according to the number of the conveying devices23.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first conveying section 24includes a first conveying belt 241 which has a portion along theconveyance direction X at a lower part and which rotates endlessly, androtators 242 between which the first conveying belt 241 is hung.Further, the first conveying section 24 includes a suction section 243for suctioning the tablet 1 and a holding section 244 that holds thefirst conveying belt 241 to improve suction efficiency.

Whereby, by the suction section 243 suctioning the tablet 1, the firstconveying section 24 holds by suction the tablet 1 at the lower part ofthe first conveying belt 241. The first conveying section 24 conveys thetablet 1 so that the lower face of the tablet 1 is exposed.

Further, the first conveying section 24 is disposed so that an end ofthe first conveying section 24 at the upstream side vertically overlapswith an end of the conveying device 22 at the downstream side. Whereby,the first conveying section 24 holds by suction the tablet 1 placed onthe carrying belt 221 at the lower part of the first conveying belt 241.The conveyance speed of the first conveying section 24 (that is, therunning speed of the first conveying belt 241) is higher than theconveyance speed of the carrying device 22 (that is, the running speedof the carrying belt 221). Whereby, the first conveying section 24 canconvey the tablets 1, 1 which are carried from the carrying device 22 ina state where they are close to each other, while separating the tablets1, 1 from each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first conveying belt 241includes a belt body 241 a formed in a band shape, a groove 241 b whichis disposed in the center of a width direction of the belt body 241 aand which extends along a longitudinal direction, and a plurality ofsuction holes 241 c which are disposed at the groove 241 b and which arealigned along the longitudinal direction. By the suction section 243suctioning the tablet 1 through the suction hole 241 c and the groove241 b, the first conveying belt 241 holds by suction the tablet 1 at thelower face of the belt body 241 a.

A width of the groove 241 b is set smaller than a diameter of the tablet1. Further, a diameter of the suction hole 241 c is set smaller than thediameter of the tablet 1. A distance between the suction holes 241 c isset smaller than the diameter of the tablet 1. Whereby, the tablet 1vertically overlaps with the plurality of suction holes 241 c. It shouldbe noted that the configuration of the suction hole 241 c is not limitedto the above-described configuration, and, for example, the suction hole241 c may be formed in the shape of an elongate hole along thelongitudinal direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the second conveying section 25includes a second conveying belt 251 which has a portion along theconveyance direction X at an upper part and which rotates endlessly, androtators 252 between which the second conveying belt 251 is hung.Further, the second conveying section 25 includes a suction section 253for suctioning a tablet 1 and a holding section 254 that holds thesecond conveying belt 251 to improve suction efficiency.

By the suction section 253 suctioning the tablet 1, the second conveyingsection 25 holds the tablet 1 by suction at the upper part of the secondconveying belt 251. Whereby, the second conveying section 25 conveys thetablet 1 so that an upper face of the tablet 1 is exposed.

Further, the second conveying section 25 is disposed so that an upstreamend of the second conveying section 25 vertically overlaps with adownstream end of the first conveying section 24. Whereby, the secondconveying section 25 holds by suction the tablet 1 which is held bysuction at the lower part of the first conveying belt 241 at the upperpart of the second conveying belt 251. The conveyance speed of thesecond conveying section 25 (that is, the running speed of the secondconveying belt 251) is the same as the conveyance speed of the firstconveying section 24 (that is, the running speed of the first conveyingbelt 241). It should be noted that the configuration of the secondconveying belt 251 is substantially the same as the configuration of thefirst conveying belt 241.

The rejecting device 27 rejects a predetermined tablet 1 based oncontrol by the control unit 6. Specifically, the rejecting device 27prevents the tablet 1 from discharging from the discharging device 26 byejecting compressed air toward the predetermined tablet 1 when thetablet 1 is transferred from the second conveying section 25 to thedischarging device 26.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first image pickup printing unit 4includes a first detecting section 41 that detects the tablet 1 whilebeing conveyed by the first conveying section 24, and a firstdisplacement measuring section 42 that measures an amount ofdisplacement of the tablet 1. The first image pickup printing unit 4includes a lower image pickup device (also referred to as a “first imagepickup device”) 43 that picks up an image of a lower face of the tablet1, a lower printing device (also referred to as a “first printingdevice”) 44 that performs printing on the lower face of the tablet 1,and a lower printed portion image pickup device (also referred to as a“first printed portion image pickup device”) 45 that picks up an imageof a portion on which printing is performed (hereinafter, referred to asa “printed portion”, see FIG. 3) on the lower face of the tablet 1.

The first detecting section 41 detects that the tablet 1 reaches apredetermined reference position of the first conveying section 24. Forexample, the first detecting section 41 is a photoelectric sensor, orthe like. Further, the first displacement measuring section 42 measuresan amount of displacement of the tablet 1 by measuring a running amountof the first conveying section 24. For example, the first displacementmeasuring section 42 is an encoder, or the like, attached to the rotator242 of the first conveying section 24. Therefore, when the firstdetecting section 41 detects that the tablet 1 reaches the referenceposition and the first displacement measuring section 42 measures anamount of displacement from the reference position, the position of thetablet 1 at the first conveying section 24 is detected.

The lower image pickup device 43 is disposed at the downstream side ofthe first detecting section 41, and below the first conveying section24. The lower image pickup device 43 picks up an image of the lower faceof the tablet 1 based on control by the control unit 6. It should benoted that, though not illustrated, the lower image pickup device 43includes a light source that emits a light toward the tablet 1, anoptical system (such as a lens and a mirror) that radiates and reflectsa light reflected on the lower face of the tablet 1 and an image pickupelement (such as an area image sensor and a line image sensor) thatreceives the light which has passed through the optical system.

The lower printing device 44 is disposed at the downstream side of thelower image pickup device 43 and below the first conveying section 24.The lower printing device 44 performs printing on the lower face of thetablet 1 based on the control by the control unit 6. In the presentembodiment, the lower printing device 44 is a non-contact type printingmechanism in which the device itself does not contact the tablet 1. Forexample, the lower printing device 44 is an ink jet printer, or thelike, that ejects ink toward the tablet 1.

The lower printed portion image pickup device 45 is disposed at thedownstream side of the lower printing device 44 and below the firstconveying section 24. The lower printed portion image pickup device 45picks up an image of a printed portion 12 at the lower side of thetablet 1 based on control by the control unit 6. It should be notedthat, though not illustrated, the lower printed portion image pickupdevice 45 includes a light source that emits a light toward the tablet1, an optical system that radiates and reflects a light reflected at thelower side of the tablet 1 and an image pickup element that receives thelight which has passed through the optical system.

The second image pickup printing unit 5 includes a second detectingsection 51 that detects a tablet 1 while being conveyed to the secondconveying section 25 and a second displacement measuring section 52 thatmeasures an amount of displacement of the tablet 1. The second imagepickup printing unit 5 includes a lateral image pickup device 53 thatpicks up an image of the lateral side of the tablet 1, an upper imagepickup device (also referred to as a “second image pickup device”) 54that picks up an image of the upper face of the tablet 1, an upperprinting device (also referred to as a “second printing device”) 55 thatperforms printing on the upper face of the tablet 1, and an upperprinted portion image pickup device (also referred to as a “secondprinted portion image pickup device”) 56 that picks up an image of theprinted portion 12 at the upper side of the tablet 1.

The second detecting section 51 detects that the tablet 1 reaches apredetermined reference position of the second conveying section 25.Further, the second displacement measuring section 52 measures an amountof displacement of the tablet 1 by measuring a running amount of thesecond conveying section 25. In this way, when the second detectingsection 51 detects that the tablet 1 reaches the reference position andthe second displacement measuring section 52 measures the amount ofdisplacement from the reference position, the position of the tablet 1at the second conveying section 25 is detected.

The lateral image pickup device 53 is disposed at the downstream side ofthe second detecting section 51 and above the second conveying section25. The lateral image pickup device 53 picks up an image of the lateralface of the tablet 1 based on control by the control unit 6. It shouldbe noted that, though not illustrated, the lateral image pickup device53 includes a light source that emits a light toward the tablet 1, anoptical system that radiates and reflects a light reflected at thelateral side of the tablet 1, and an image pickup element that receivesthe light which has passed through the optical system.

The upper image pickup device 54 is disposed at the downstream side ofthe lateral image pickup device 53 and above the second conveyingsection 25. The upper image pickup device 54 picks up an image of theupper face of the tablet 1 based on control by the control unit 6. Itshould be noted that, though not illustrated, the upper image pickupdevice 54 includes a light source that emits a light toward the tablet1, an optical system that radiates and reflects a light reflected at theupper face of the tablet 1, and an image pickup element that receivesthe light which has passed through the optical system.

The upper printing device 55 is disposed at the downstream side of theupper image pickup device 54 and above the second conveying section 25.The upper printing device 55 performs printing on the upper face of thetablet 1 based on control by the control unit 6. In the presentembodiment, the upper printing device 55 is a non-contact type printingmechanism (such as an ink jet printer) in which the upper printingdevice 55 itself does not contact the tablet 1.

The upper printed portion image pickup device 56 is disposed at thedownstream side of the upper printing device 55 and above the secondconveying section 25. The upper printed portion image pickup device 56picks up an image of the printed portion 12 on the upper face of thetablet 1 based on control by the control unit 6. It should be notedthat, though not illustrated, the upper printed portion image pickupdevice 56 includes a light source that emits a light toward the tablet1, an optical system that radiates and reflects a light reflected on theupper face of the tablet 1, and an image pickup element that receivesthe light which has passed through the optical system.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the control unit 6 includes an input device 61that inputs each information, a control device 62 that controls eachdevice, and an output device 63 that outputs each information.

The input device 61 inputs information of a target tablet 1, which is tobe checked and printed, to the control device 62. For example, the inputdevice 61 is a keyboard (numerical keypad), a select switch, or thelike. When the information (such as a number according to a type) of thetablet 1 is input to the control device 62 through the input device 61,the control device 62 recognizes the information (such as theinformation on whether or not there is a dividing line 11, and theshape) of the target tablet 1. The control device 62 includes a positioncalculating section 621 that calculates the position of the tablet 1, alower printing control section (also referred to as a “first printingcontrol section”) 622 that controls the lower printing device 44, alower checking section (also referred to as a “first checking section”)623 that checks the lower side of the tablet 1, and a lower printingchecking section 624 that checks the printed portion 12 at the lowerside of the tablet 1. Further, the control device 62 includes a lateralchecking section 625 that checks the lateral side of the tablet 1.

The control device 62 includes an upper printing control section (alsoreferred to as a “second printing control section”) 626 that controlsthe upper printing device 55, an upper checking section (also referredto as a “second checking section”) 627 that checks the upper face of thetablet 1, and an upper printing checking section 628 that checks theprinted portion 12 on the upper face of the tablet 1. Further, thecontrol device 62 includes a dividing line checking section 629 thatchecks the judgment result as to whether or not there is a dividing line11.

The position calculating section 621 calculates the position of thetablet 1 based on the information from the detecting sections 41 and 51and the displacement measuring sections 42 and 52. The control device 62makes each of the image pickup devices 43, 45, 53, 54 and 56 pick up animage of the tablet 1 at a predetermined timing based on the resultcalculated at the position calculating section 621 and makes each of theprinting devices 44 and 55 perform printing on the tablet 1 at apredetermined timing.

The lower printing control section 622 includes a lower dividing linejudging section (also referred to as a “first dividing line judgingsection”) 622 a that judges whether or not there is a dividing line 11on the lower face of the tablet 1 based on the image picked up at thelower image pickup device 43, and a lower printing judging section (alsoreferred to as a “first printing judging section”) 622 b that judgeswhether or not to perform printing on the lower face of the tablet 1based on the image picked up by the lower image pickup device 43.Further, the lower printing control section 622 includes a printinginformation storage section 622 c that stores printing information.

The lower dividing line judging section 622 a judges whether or notthere is a dividing line 11 from the image picked up by the lower imagepickup device 43. Specifically, the lower dividing line judging section622 a judges whether “there is a dividing line” or “there is no dividingline” by comparing stored reference image information with informationof the image picked up by the lower image pickup device 43.

The lower printing judging section 622 b performs judgment based on thejudgment result of the lower dividing line judging section 622 a.Specifically, when the lower dividing line judging section 622 a judgesthat “there is no dividing line”, the lower printing judging section 622b judges that the lower printing device 44 may “perform printing” on thelower face of the tablet 1. Conversely, when the lower dividing linejudging section 622 a judges that “there is a dividing line”, the lowerprinting judging section 622 b judges that the lower printing device 44should “not perform printing” on the lower face of the tablet 1.

The lower checking section 623 checks the lower face of the tablet 1based on the image picked up by the lower image pickup device 43.Specifically, the lower checking section 623 judges whether the lowerface of the tablet 1 is “normal” or “abnormal” by comparing the storedreference image information with information of the image picked up bythe lower image pickup device 43. It should be noted that, though notillustrated, the lower checking section 623 includes a shape checkingsection that checks whether or not the size is appropriate, a foreignsubstance checking section that checks whether or not there is a foreignsubstance, a crack checking section that checks whether or not there isa crack or chipped portion, and the like.

The lower printing checking section 624 checks the printed portion 12 onthe lower face of the tablet 1 based on the image picked up by the lowerprinted portion image pickup device 45. Specifically, the lower checkingsection 623 judges whether the printed portion 12 of the tablet 1 is“normal” or “abnormal” by comparing the stored reference imageinformation with information of the image picked up by the lower printedportion image pickup device 45.

The lateral checking section 625 checks the lateral side of the tablet 1based on the image picked up by the lateral image pickup device 53.Specifically, the lateral checking section 625 judges whether thelateral side of the tablet 1 is “normal” or “abnormal” by comparing thestored reference image information with information of the image pickedup by the lateral image pickup device 53. It should be noted that,though not illustrated, the lateral checking section 625 includes ashape checking section, a foreign substance checking section, a crackchecking section, and the like.

The upper printing control section 626 includes an upper dividing linejudging section (also referred to as a “second dividing line judgingsection”) 626 a that judges whether or not there is a dividing line 11on the upper face of the tablet 1 based on the image picked up by theupper image pickup device 54, and an upper printing judging section(also referred to as a “second printing judging section”) 626 b thatjudges whether or not to perform printing on the upper face of thetablet 1 based on the image picked up by the upper image pickup device54. Further, the upper printing control section 626 includes a printinginformation storage section 626 c that stores printing information.

The upper dividing line judging section 626 a judges whether or notthere is a dividing line 11 based on the image picked up by the upperimage pickup device 54. Specifically, the upper dividing line judgingsection 626 a judges whether “there is a dividing line” or “there is nodividing line” by comparing the stored reference image information withinformation of the image picked up by the upper image pickup device 54.

The upper printing judging section 626 b performs judgment based on thejudgment result of the upper dividing line judging section 626 a.Specifically, when the upper dividing line judging section 626 a judgesthat “there is no dividing line”, the upper printing judging section 626b judges that the upper printing device 55 may “perform printing” on theupper face of the tablet 1. Conversely, when the upper dividing linejudging section 626 a judges that “there is a dividing line”, the upperprinting judging section 626 b judges that the upper printing device 44should “not perform printing” on the upper face of the tablet 1.

The upper checking section 627 checks the upper face of the tablet 1based on the image picked up by the upper image pickup device 54.Specifically, the upper checking section 627 judges whether the upperface of the tablet 1 is “normal” or “abnormal” by comparing the storedreference image information with information of the image picked up bythe upper image pickup device 54. It should be noted that, though notillustrated, the upper checking section 627 includes a shape checkingsection, a foreign substance checking section, a crack checking section,and the like.

The upper printing checking section 628 checks the printed portion 12 onthe upper face of the tablet 1 based on the image picked up by the upperprinted portion image pickup device 56. Specifically, the upper printingchecking section 628 judges whether the printed portion 12 of the tablet1 is “normal” or “abnormal” by comparing the stored reference imageinformation with information of the image picked up by the upper printedportion image pickup device 56.

The dividing line checking section 629 checks the judgment results ofthe dividing line judging sections 622 a and 626 a based on the judgmentresult of the lower dividing line judging section 622 a and the judgmentresult of the upper dividing line judging section 626 a. Specifically,the dividing line checking section 629 judges a case where the judgmentresults of the dividing line judging sections 622 a and 626 a aredifferent from each other (“there is a dividing line” and “there is nodividing line”) as “normal”. Meanwhile, the dividing line checkingsection 629 judges a case where the judgment results of the dividingline judging sections 622 a and 626 a are the same (“there is a dividingline” and “there is a dividing line”, or “there is no dividing line” and“there is no dividing line”) as “abnormal”.

The output device 63 outputs images which are picked up by the imagepickup devices 43, 45, 53, 54 and 56 and stored in the control device62, and the check results of the checking sections 623, 624, 625, 627,628 and 629, the counting results, or the like. For example, the outputdevice 63 is a monitor, a printer, or the like.

Next, a method for manufacturing a tablet 1 using the printer accordingto the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.7. It should be noted that an object on which printing is to beperformed is a tablet 1 having a dividing line 11 for dividing thetablet 1 on one face.

First, the lower image pickup device 43 picks up an image of the lowerface of the tablet 1 which is being conveyed by the first conveyingsection 24 (step 101). Then, the lower dividing line judging section 622a judges whether or not there is a dividing line 11 based on the imagepicked up by the lower image pickup device 43 (step 102). Then, thelower checking section 623 checks whether the lower face of the tablet 1is normal or abnormal based on the image picked up by the lower imagepickup device 43 (step 103).

When there is no dividing line 11 on the lower face of the tablet 1(step 104: “N”), the lower printing device 44 performs printing on thelower face of the tablet 1 while being conveyed (step 105).Subsequently, the lower printed portion image pickup device 45 picks upan image of the printed portion 12 on the lower face of the tablet 1while being conveyed (step 106). Then, the lower printing checkingsection 624 checks whether the printed portion 12 is normal or abnormalbased on the image picked up by the lower printed portion image pickupdevice 45 (step 107). Conversely, when there is a dividing line 11 onthe lower face of the tablet 1 (step 104: “Y”), the tablet 1 is conveyedwithout being subjected to printing, image pickup or check.

When the tablet 1 is transferred from the first conveying section 24 tothe second conveying section 25, the lateral image pickup device 53picks up an image of the lateral side of the tablet 1 while beingconveyed (step 108). Then, the lateral checking section 625 checkswhether the lateral side of the tablet 1 is normal or abnormal based onthe image picked up by the lateral image pickup device 53 (step 109).

The upper image pickup device 54 picks up an image of the upper face ofthe tablet 1 while being conveyed by the second conveying section 25(step 110). Then, the upper dividing line judging section 626 a judgeswhether there is a dividing line 11 based on the image picked up by theupper image pickup device 54 (step 111). Subsequently, the upperchecking section 627 checks whether the upper face of the tablet 1 isnormal or abnormal based on the image picked up by the upper imagepickup device 54 (step 112).

When there is no dividing line 11 on the upper face of the tablet 1(step 113: “N”), the upper printing device 55 performs printing on theupper face of the tablet 1 while being conveyed (step 114).Subsequently, the upper printed portion image pickup device 56 picks upan image of the printed portion 12 on the upper face of the tablet 1while being conveyed (step 115). Then, the upper printing checkingsection 628 checks whether the printed portion 12 is normal or abnormalbased on the image picked up by the upper printed portion image pickupdevice 56 (step 116). Conversely, when there is a dividing line 11 onthe upper face of the tablet 1 (step 113: “Y”), the tablet 1 is conveyedwithout being subjected to printing, image pickup or check.

The dividing line checking section 629 checks whether the judgmentresults of the dividing line judging sections 622 a and 626 a are normalor abnormal based on the judgment results of the dividing line judgingsections 622 a and 626 a (step 117). Then, when the checking results ofthe checking sections 623, 624, 625, 627, 628 and 629 include at leastone result indicating abnormal (step 118: “Y”), the rejecting device 27rejects the tablet 1 while being conveyed (step 119). Conversely, whenall the checking results of the checking sections 623, 624, 625, 627,628 and 629 are normal (step 118: “N”), the tablet 1 is conveyed to thedischarging device 26 without being rejected.

Next, another method for manufacturing a tablet 1 using the printeraccording to the present embodiment will be described below withreference to FIG. 8. It should be noted that an object on which printingis to be performed is a tablet 1 which does not have a dividing line 11.

Because the object is a tablet 1 which does not have a dividing line 11,judgment as to whether or not there is a dividing line performed by thelower dividing line judging section 622 a (steps 102 and 104), judgmentas to whether or not there is a dividing line performed by the upperdividing line judging section 626 a (steps 111 and 113), and checking ofthe judgment results of the dividing line judging sections 622 a and 626a performed by the dividing line checking section 629 (step 117) are notperformed. Because the steps 101, 103, 105 to 110, 112, 114 to 116 and118 to 119 are as described above, the explanation will be omitted.

According to the printer of the present embodiment, the conveying device23 conveys the tablet 1. The lower image pickup device 43 picks up animage of the lower face of the tablet 1 while being conveyed. Then, thelower checking section 623 checks the lower face of the tablet 1 basedon the image picked up by the lower image pickup device 43. Further, theupper image pickup device 54 picks up an image of the upper face of thetablet 1 while being conveyed. Then, the upper checking section 627checks the upper face of the tablet 1 based on the image picked up bythe upper image pickup device 54.

Further, the lower printing device 44 disposed at the downstream side ofthe lower image pickup device 43 performs printing on the lower face ofthe tablet 1 while being conveyed, and the upper printing device 55disposed at the downstream side of the upper image pickup device 54performs printing on the upper face of the tablet 1 while beingconveyed. Whereby, the printer can check the both faces of the tablet 1while being conveyed. Further, the printer can perform printing on theboth faces of the tablet 1 while being conveyed or perform printing on adesired one face out of the upper face and the lower face of the tablet1 while being conveyed.

Further, according to the printer of the present embodiment, the lowerprinting judging section 622 b judges whether or not to perform printingon the lower face of the tablet 1 based on the image picked up by thelower image pickup device 43, and the upper printing judging section 626b judges whether or not to perform printing on the upper face of thetablet 1 based on the image picked up by the upper image pickup device54. Whereby, the printer can perform printing on the both faces of thetablet 1 while being conveyed or can perform printing on a desired oneface out of the upper face and the lower face of the tablet 1 whilebeing conveyed based on the judgment of the printing judging sections622 b and 626 b.

Further, in the printer according to the present embodiment, theconveying device 23 conveys the tablet 1 having a dividing line 11 fordividing the tablet 1 on either a face of one side or a face of theother side. Further, the lower dividing line judging section 622 ajudges whether or not there is a dividing line 11 based on the imagepicked up by the lower image pickup device 43. When the lower dividingline judging section 622 a judges that “there is a dividing line”, thelower printing judging section 622 b judges “not to perform printing” onthe lower face of the tablet 1.

Further, the upper dividing line judging section 626 a judges whether ornot there is a dividing line 11 based on the image picked up by theupper image pickup device 54. When the upper dividing line judgingsection 626 a judges that “there is a dividing line”, the upper printingjudging section 626 b judges “not to perform printing” on the upper faceof the tablet 1. Whereby, the printer can prevent printing on a facehaving a dividing line 11 of the tablet 1 while being conveyed. That is,the printer can reliably perform printing on a face which does not havea dividing line 11.

Further, according to the printer of the present embodiment, thedividing line checking section 629 judges a case where the judgmentresults of the dividing line judging sections 622 a and 626 a aredifferent from each other as “normal”. Meanwhile, the dividing linechecking section 629 judges a case where the judgment results of thedividing line judging sections 622 a and 626 a are the same as“abnormal”. Whereby, the printer judges the tablet 1 as abnormal whenboth the dividing line judging sections 622 a and 626 a judge that“there is a dividing line (or there is no dividing line)”, for example,when the judgment results of the dividing line judging section 622 a and626 b are wrong, or, when a tablet 1 having dividing lines 11 on theboth faces (or a tablet 1 having a dividing line 11 on neither face) isconveyed.

It should be noted that the printer and the tablet according to thepresent invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments,and, of course, can be modified in various manner within the scope notdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. Further, it is, ofcourse, possible to arbitrarily select configurations, methods, or thelike, according to various modified examples described below and employthem in the configuration, method, or the like according to theabove-described embodiments.

For example, the printer according to the present invention may beconfigured such that, when the first checking section (lower checkingsection) 623 judges the lower side as abnormal, the first printingjudging section (lower printing judging section) 622 b judges not toperform printing on a face facing one side (lower side) of the object(tablet) 1, and, when the second checking section (upper checkingsection) 627 judges the upper side as abnormal, the second printingjudging section (upper printing judging section) 626 b judges not toperform printing on a face facing the other side (upper side) of theobject (tablet) 1.

According to the above-described configuration, the first checkingsection (lower checking section) 623 judges whether the lower side isnormal or abnormal based on the image picked up by the first imagepickup device (lower image pickup device) 43. When the first checkingsection (lower checking section) 623 judges that the lower side isabnormal, the first printing judging section (lower printing judgingsection) 622 b judges not to perform printing on a face facing the oneside (lower side) of the object (tablet) 1.

Further, the second checking section (upper checking section) 627 judgeswhether the upper side is normal or abnormal based on the image pickedup by the second image pickup device (upper image pickup device) 54.When the second checking section (upper checking section) 627 judgesthat the upper side is abnormal, the second printing judging section(upper printing judging section) 626 b judges not to perform printing ona face facing the other side (upper side) of the object (tablet) 1.Whereby, the printer can prevent printing on the object (tablet) 1judged as abnormal in the checking sections 623 and 627.

An example of the printer having the above-described configuration willbe described below with reference to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11.

The printer illustrated in FIG. 9 is configured to stop implementationof image pickup, check, judgment and printing on the tablet 1 which hasbeen determined to be rejected by the rejecting device 27 afterdetermination. It should be noted that each of the checking sections623, 625 and 627 sequentially performs check of the shape, check of aforeign substance and check of a crack or chipped portion. However, eachof the checking sections 623, 625 and 627 is configured to stopimplementation of the remaining check after judging that the tablet 1 isabnormal through given check.

The tablet 1 which has been determined to be rejected by the rejectingdevice 27 is rejected regardless of the check results and judgmentresults after the determination. Therefore, in the printer illustratedin FIG. 9, image pickup, check, judgment and printing are not performedfor the tablet 1 which has been determined to be rejected, so that it ispossible to reduce a processing time required for check and judgment,ink required for printing, or the like.

In the printer illustrated in FIG. 9, the lower printing judging section622 b performs judgment based on the judgment results of the lowerdividing line judging section 622 a and the lower checking section 623.Specifically, in any one of cases where the lower dividing line judgingsection 622 a judges that “there is a dividing line” and where the lowerchecking section 623 judges that the lower side is abnormal, the lowerprinting judging section 622 b judges that the lower printing device 44should “not perform printing” on the lower face of the tablet 1.

Further, the upper printing judging section 626 b performs judgmentbased on the judgment results of the lower checking section 623, thelower printing checking section 624, the lateral checking section 625,the upper dividing line judging section 626 a and the upper checkingsection 627. Specifically, in any one of cases where the upper dividingline judging section 626 a judges that “there is a dividing line”, wherethe lower checking section 623 judges that the lower side is abnormal,where the lower printing checking section 624 judges that the printedportion is abnormal, where the lateral checking section 625 judges thatthe lateral side is abnormal, and where the upper checking section 627judges that the upper side is abnormal, the upper printing judgingsection 626 b judges that the upper printing device 55 should “notperform printing” on the upper face of the tablet 1.

Next, a method for manufacturing a tablet 1 using the printerillustrated in FIG. 9 will be described below with reference to FIG. 10.It should be noted that an object on which printing is to be performedis a tablet 1 having a dividing line 11 for dividing the tablet 1 on oneface.

The printer illustrated in FIG. 9 is different from the printeraccording to the above-described embodiments in that, in the printerillustrated in FIG. 9, after the lower dividing line judging section 622a judges whether or not there is a dividing line 11 based on the imagepicked up by the lower image pickup device 43 (step 102), the lowerchecking section 623 checks whether the lower face of the tablet 1 isnormal or abnormal based on the image picked up by the lower imagepickup device 43 (step 103), and in that, after the upper dividing linejudging section 626 a judges whether or not there is a dividing line 11based on the image picked up by the upper image pickup device 54 (step111), the upper checking section 627 checks whether the upper face ofthe tablet 1 is normal or abnormal based on the image picked up by theupper image pickup device 54 (step 112).

Further, when each of the checking sections 623, 624, 625, 627 and 628judges that the tablet 1 is abnormal (steps 103 a, 107 a, 109 a, 112 a,116 a and 117 a: “Y”), image pickup, check, judgment and printing afterthe judgment are stopped for the tablet 1. The tablet 1 is then rejectedby the rejecting device 27 (step 119). It should be noted that becausesteps 101 to 117 and 119 are substantially the same as those accordingto the above-described embodiments, the explanation thereof will beomitted.

Next, another method for manufacturing a tablet 1 using the printerillustrated in FIG. 9 will be described below with reference to FIG. 11.It should be noted that an object on which printing is to be performedis a tablet 1 which does not have a dividing line 11.

Because the object is a tablet 1 which does not have a dividing line 11,judgment as to whether there is a dividing line performed by the lowerdividing line judging section 622 a (steps 102 and 104), judgment as towhether there is a dividing line performed by the upper dividing linejudging section 626 a (steps 111 and 113), and check of the judgmentresults of the dividing line judging section 622 a and 626 a performedby the dividing line checking section 629 (steps 117 and 117 a) are notperformed. It should be noted that steps 103 a, 107 a, 109 a, 112 a, 116a and 117 a are as described above, the explanation thereof will beomitted. Further, steps 101, 103, 105 to 110, 112, 114 to 116 and 119are substantially the same as those according to the above-describedembodiments, the explanation thereof will be omitted.

Further, in the printer according to the above-described embodiments, adistance between the suction holes 241 c is set smaller than thediameter of the tablet 1. However, the printer according to the presentinvention is not limited to the above-described configuration. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the distance between thesuction holes 241 c may be set larger than the diameter of the tablet 1.

According to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, onesuction hole 241 c can suction one tablet 1. By this suction, the tablet1 blocks the suction hole 241 c. For example, the tablet 1 blocks thesuction hole 241 c located at the lower part of the conveying belt 241in the first conveying section 24. Therefore, it is possible to preventejected ink from being disturbed by air suctioned by the suction hole241 c, so that the lower printing device 44 can stably eject ink. Itshould be noted that this configuration can be employed in the secondconveying section 25.

Further, at the printer according to the above-described embodiments,the conveying device 23 is configured to convey a tablet 1 along alinear conveyance direction X. However, the configuration of the printeraccording to the present invention is not limited to the above-describedconfiguration. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the conveyingdevice 23 may be configured to convey a tablet 1 along a curvedconveyance direction X.

The conveying device 23 of the printer illustrated in FIG. 14 includes afirst conveying section 24 that rotates while holding by suction thetablet 1 received from the storage device 21 on its surface, and asecond conveying section 25 that rotates while receiving the tablet 1from the first conveying section 24 and holds by suction the tablet 1 onits surface. Further, the printer includes a discharging device 26 and arejecting device 27 at the downstream side of the second conveyingsection 25.

The printer includes a first image pickup device 43, a first printingdevice 44 and a first printed portion image pickup device 45 outside thefirst conveying section 24. Further, the printer includes a second imagepickup device 54, a second printing device 55 and a second printedportion image pickup device 56 outside the second conveying section 25.

Further, in the printer according to the above-described embodiments,the first conveying section 24 conveys the tablet 1 while contacting theupper side of the tablet 1, and the second conveying section 25 conveysthe tablet 1 while contacting the lower side of the tablet 1. However,the printer according to the present invention is not limited to theabove-described configuration.

For example, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which thesecond conveying section 25 conveys the tablet 1 while contacting aportion facing one lateral side of the tablet 1, and the first conveyingsection 24 conveys the tablet 1 while contacting a portion facing theother lateral side (the other side in a horizontal direction) of thetablet 1, and the first image pickup printing unit 4 picks up an imageof the portion facing the one lateral side of the tablet 1 and performsprinting on the portion of the one lateral side, and the second imagepickup printing unit 5 picks up an image of the portion facing the otherlateral side of the tablet 1 and performs printing on the portion of theother lateral side.

Further, the printer according to the above-described embodiments isconfigured so that after the lower dividing line judging section 622 a(upper dividing line judging section 626 a) performs judgment (judgmentas to whether or not there is a dividing line), the lower checkingsection 623 (upper checking section 627) performs check (check of theshape, check of a foreign substance and check of a crack or chippedportion). However, the printer according to the present invention is notlimited to the above-described configuration. Specifically, the printermay be configured so that judgment as to whether or not there is adividing line is performed between any of the check of the shape, checkof a foreign substance and check of a crack or chipped portion performedby the checking sections 623 and 627. For example, the printer may beconfigured so that check of the shape, check as to whether or not thereis a dividing line, check of a foreign substance and check of a crack orchipped portion are performed in this order.

Further, in the printer according to the above-described embodiments,the printing devices 44 and 55 are non-contact type printing mechanisms(such as ink jet printers) which eject ink. However, the printeraccording to the present invention is not limited to the above-describedconfiguration. For example, the printing devices 44 and 55 may benon-contact type printing mechanisms (such as laser markers) whichperform impressing and printing on the tablet 1 by radiating laser.Further, the printing devices 44 and 45 may be contact type printingmechanisms (such as stamps) which perform printing by contacting thetablet 1.

Further, in the printer according to the above-described embodiments, anobject on which printing is to be performed is a tablet 1. However, theprinter according to the present invention is not limited to theabove-described configuration. For example, an object on which printingis to be performed may be a solid such as a candy.

Further, in the printer according to the above-described embodiments,what is printed on the tablet 1 is letters or characters. However, theprinter according to the present invention is not limited to theabove-described configuration. For example, what is printed on thetablet 1 may be patterns, designs, or the like. It should be noted that,hereinafter, these letters, characters, patterns, designs, or the like,may be simply referred to as a “symbol”.

Further, the printer according to the above-described embodiments isconfigured such that the printing devices 44 and 55 and printing controlsections 622 and 626 do not perform printing on the face having adividing line 11 out of the face facing the one side (lower side in theabove-described embodiments) and the face facing the other side (upperside in the above-described embodiments) of the tablet 1. However, theprinter according to the present invention is not limited to theabove-described configuration. For example, the printing devices 44 and55 and the printing control sections 622 and 626 may be configured toperform printing also on the face having the dividing line 11 of thetablet 1. Six specific examples of the printer having such aconfiguration will be described below.

First, a first specific example of the printer performing printing alsoon the face having the dividing line 11 will be described below withreference to FIG. 15 to FIG. 20.

In the control device 62 of this printer, as illustrated in FIG. 15, thelower printing control section 622 includes a lower dividing linejudging section 622 a, a lower printing judging section 622 b and aprinting information storage section 622 c. Further, the lower printingcontrol section 622 includes a dividing line position calculatingsection 622 d that calculates the position of the dividing line 11 basedon the image picked up by the lower image pickup device 43 and aprinting information calculating section 622 e that calculatesinformation to be printed by the lower printing device 44 based on thecalculation result of the dividing line position calculating section 622d.

Further, the upper printing control section 626 includes an upperdividing line judging section 626 a, an upper printing judging section626 b and a printing information storage section 626 c. Further, theupper printing control section 626 includes a dividing line positioncalculating section 626 d that calculates the position of the dividingline 11 based on the image picked up by the upper image pickup device 54and a printing information calculating section 626 e that calculatesinformation to be printed by the upper printing device 55 based on thecalculation result of the dividing line position calculating section 626d.

As illustrated in FIG. 16 to FIG. 18, a method for manufacturing atablet 1 using this printer is different from the method formanufacturing a tablet 1 using the printer according to theabove-described embodiments in a method in which printing is performedon the lower face of the tablet 1 (step 105 a), and a method in whichprinting is performed on the upper face of the tablet 1 (step 114 a). Itshould be noted because that steps 101 to 103, 106 to 112 and 115 to 119are substantially the same as those according to the above-describedembodiments, the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this printer, after the lower checking section 623 checks whether thelower face of the tablet 1 is normal or abnormal (step 103), the lowerprinting device 44 performs printing on the lower face of the tablet 1(step 105 a). This printing (step 105 a) is performed as describedbelow.

First, the lower dividing line judging section 622 a judges whether ornot there is a dividing line 11 based on the image picked up by thelower image pickup device 43 (step 105 b). When there is no dividingline 11 on the lower face of the tablet 1 (step 105 b: “N”), theprinting information calculating section 622 e retrieves printinginformation stored in the printing information storage section 622 c(step 105 d), and the lower printing device 44 prints the informationretrieved by the printing information calculating section 622 e on thelower face of the tablet 1.

Conversely, when there is a dividing line 11 on the lower face of thetablet 1 (step 105 b: “Y”), the dividing line position calculatingsection 622 d calculates an angle by which the dividing line 11 rotateswith respect to a predetermined position based on the image picked up bythe lower image pickup device 43 (step 105 c). Subsequently, theprinting information calculating section 622 e retrieves printinginformation stored in the printing information storage section 622 c andcalculates the retrieved printing information so as to rotate by theangle calculated by the dividing line position calculating section 622 d(step 105 d). The lower printing device 44 performs printing on thelower face of the tablet 1 based on the information calculated by theprinting information calculating section 622 e.

Further, in this printer, after the upper checking section 627 checkswhether the upper face of the tablet 1 is normal or abnormal (step 112),the upper printing device 55 performs printing on the upper face of thetablet 1 (step 114 a). This printing (step 114 a) will be describedbelow.

First, the upper dividing line judging section 626 a judges whether ornot there is a dividing line 11 based on the image picked up by theupper image pickup device 54 (step 114 b). When there is no dividingline 11 on the upper face of the tablet 1 (step 114 b: “N”), theprinting information calculating section 622 e retrieves the printinginformation stored in the printing information storage section 626 c(step 114 d). The upper printing device 55 prints the informationretrieved by the printing information calculating section 626 e on theupper face of the tablet 1.

Conversely, when there is a dividing line 11 on the upper face of thetablet 1 (step 114 b: “Y”), the dividing line position calculatingsection 626 d calculates an angle by which the dividing line 11 rotateswith respect to a predetermined position based on the image picked up bythe upper image pickup device 54 (step 114 c). Subsequently, theprinting information calculating section 626 e retrieves the printinginformation stored in the printing information storage section 626 c andcalculates the retrieved information so as to rotate by the anglecalculated by the dividing line position calculating section 626 d (step114 d). The upper printing device 55 performs printing on the upper faceof the tablet 1 based on the information calculated by the printinginformation calculating section 626 e.

According to the above-described configuration, even when the tablets 1are conveyed by the conveying belt 241 in a state where the dividinglines 11 are positioned at various positions, as illustrated in FIG. 19and FIG. 20, the lower printing device 44 can perform printing in thesame way using the dividing line 11 as a reference. Therefore, forexample, the printed portion (symbol) 12 may be a character printedalong the dividing line 11 of the tablet 1. Specifically, the lowerprinting device 44 may print a first symbol 121 in a region 111 at oneside with respect to the dividing line 11 while printing a second symbol122 in a region 112 at the other side, on the face 101 where thedividing line 11 is provided at the tablet 1.

Next, a second specific example of the printer performing printing alsoon the face having a dividing line 11 will be described below withreference to FIG. 21 to FIG. 23.

In this printer, as illustrated in FIG. 21 to FIG. 23, the firstconveying section 24 includes a dividing line position aligning device245 that aligns the positions of the dividing lines 11 (that is,directions of the groove-shaped dividing lines extending straight)between the lower image pickup device 43 and the lower printing device44. The dividing line position aligning device 245 includes a pair offirst contact bodies 245 a and 245 b that are disposed at the both sidesof the tablet 1, and a pair of second contact bodies 245 c and 245 dthat are disposed at the both sides of the tablet 1. Further, thecontrol device 62 includes a contact body control section 620 thatcontrols each of the contact bodies 245 a to 245 d.

It should be noted that, in this specific example, the dividing lineposition aligning device 245 configures a dividing line directionaligning section.

The first contact bodies 245 a and 245 b are disposed at the downstreamside of the lower image pickup device 43 and below the first conveyingbelt 241. Further, the first contact bodies 245 a and 245 b are formedin a circular shape when seen from the bottom (as illustrated in FIG.21) and are disposed distant from each other by a predetermined distanceso that the peripheries thereof contact the periphery of the tablet 1(cylindrical periphery 103). The first contact bodies 245 a and 245 brotate at different speeds to thereby rotate (specifically, rotatearound a central axis of the periphery 103) the tablet 1 which the firstcontact bodies 245 a and 245 b contact at the same time.

The second contact bodies 245 c and 245 d are disposed at the downstreamside of the first contact bodies 245 a and 245 b and below the firstconveying belt 241. Further, the second contact bodies 245 c and 245 dare formed in a circular shape when seen from the bottom (as illustratedin FIG. 21) and are disposed distant from each other by a predetermineddistance so that the peripheries thereof contact the periphery of thetablet 1 (periphery 103). The second contact bodies 245 c and 245 drotate at different speeds to thereby rotate the tablet 1 which thesecond contact bodies 245 c and 245 d contact at the same time.

The contact body control section 620 calculates an angle by which thedividing line 11 rotates with respect to the predetermined positionbased on the image picked up by the lower image pickup device 43, and,further, calculates a rotation speed of each of the contact bodies 245 ato 245 d based on the calculated angle. The contact body control section620 controls the contact bodies 245 a to 245 d to rotate at thecalculated rotation speed when the contact bodies 245 a to 245 d contactthe tablet 1.

According to the above-described configuration, even when the tablet 1is conveyed by the conveying belt 241 in a state where the dividing line11 is positioned at various positions, the dividing line positionaligning device 245 can position the dividing line 11 at a predeterminedposition by rotating the tablet 1. Whereby, the lower printing device 44can perform printing on the tablet 1 in the same way using the dividingline 11 as a reference.

It should be noted that the second conveying section 25 may also includea dividing line position aligning device that is provided between theupper image pickup device 54 and the upper printing device 55 and thataligns the positions of the dividing lines 11. Further, the number ofpairs of the contact bodies 245 a and 245 b (245 c and 245 d) is notlimited to two, and the printer may be configured to include one, orthree or more pairs.

Next, a third specific example of the printer performing printing alsoon the face having a dividing line 11 will be described below withreference to FIG. 24 to FIG. 26.

In this printer, as illustrated in FIG. 24 to FIG. 26, the carryingdevice 22 includes a dividing line position aligning device 223 thataligns the positions of the dividing lines 11 of the tablets 1 alignedby the aligning section 222. The dividing line position aligning device223 includes a pair of guide sections 223 a and 223 b that are disposeddistant from each other so as to hold a tablet 1 therebetween, and avibrating device 223 c that vibrates the carrying belt 221. Further, thecarrying belt 221 includes a protruding portion (protrusion) 221 a whichprotrudes toward a central portion of a width direction and extends in alongitudinal direction (conveyance direction of the tablet 1) so at tobe inserted (fitted) into the dividing line 11 of the tablet 1.

It should be noted that, in this specific example, the dividing lineposition aligning device 245 and the protruding portion 221 a configurethe dividing line direction aligning section that aligns the directionsof the dividing lines 11 of the tablets 1 in a predetermined direction.The dividing line position aligning device 245 and the protrudingportion 221 a cooperate with each other to align the directions of thedividing lines 11 of the tablets 1 in a predetermined direction (in thisspecific example, in a direction the protruding portion 221 a extends).

According to the above-described configuration, because the vibratingdevice 223 c vibrates the carrying belt 221, the tablet 1 while beingconveyed by the carrying belt 221 oscillates between the pair of guidesections 223 a and 223 b. Whereby, the tablet 1 which is placed on theprotruding portion 221 a in a state where the face on which the dividingline 11 is provided contacts the protruding portion 221 a and thedirection of the dividing line 11 is different from the direction of theprotruding portion 221 a, rotates around the central axis of theperiphery 103. In this way, in the present embodiment, the pair of guidesections 223 a and 223 b contacting the tablet 1 and the vibratingdevice 223 c that vibrates the carrying belt 221 on which the protrudingportion 221 a is provided cooperate with each other, so that the tablet1 can rotate around the central axis on the protruding portion 221. Thatis, the pair of guide sections 223 a and 223 b, and the vibrating device223 c that vibrates the carrying belt 221 of the present embodiments areencompassed in the scope defined by the term the contact body in theappended claims.

Subsequently, when the direction in which the protruding portion 221 aextends becomes the same as the direction in which the dividing line 11extends, the protruding portion 221 a is fitted into the dividing line11 by the weight, or the like, of the tablet 1 itself. Specifically,when the dividing line 11 of the tablet 1 moves from the position wherethe dividing line 11 intersects with the protruding portion 221 a of thecarrying belt 221 as illustrated in FIG. 25 to the position where thedividing line 11 is parallel with the protruding portion 221 a of thecarrying belt 221, the protruding portion 221 a is inserted in thedividing line 11. Whereby, because the protruding portion 221 a comesinto locking engagement with the dividing line 11, it is possible toprevent the tablet 1 positioned at a reference position from rotating.

Therefore, even when the tablet 1 is conveyed by the carrying belt 221in a state where the dividing line 11 is positioned at various positionsor extend in various directions, the dividing line position aligningdevice 223 oscillates the tablet 1, thereby positioning the dividingline 11 at a predetermined position (specifically, a position parallelwith the protruding portion 221 a). Whereby, the lower printing device44 can perform printing on the tablets 1 in the same way using thedividing line 11 as a reference. It should be noted that when the tablet1 is conveyed by the carrying device 22 with the dividing line 11 facingupward, the lower dividing line judging section 622 a judges that thereis “no dividing line” for the tablet 1, and the tablet 1 is returned tothe storage device 21 or the upstream side of the carrying device 22.

Next, a fourth specific example of the printer performing printing alsoon the face having the dividing line 11 will be described below withreference to FIG. 27 to FIG. 29.

In this printer, as illustrated in FIG. 27 to FIG. 29, the carryingdevice 22 includes a dividing line position aligning device 223 thataligns the positions of the dividing lines 11 of the tablets 1 alignedby the aligning section 222. The dividing line position aligning device223 includes a pair of contact bodies 223 d and 223 e that are disposedat the both sides of the tablet 1, and a plurality of rotators 223 fbetween which the contact bodies 223 d and 223 e are hung. Further, thecarrying belt 221 includes a protruding portion 221 a that protrudestoward the central portion of a width direction and extends in thelongitudinal direction so as to be inserted into the dividing line 11 ofthe tablet 1 and a plurality of suction holes 221 b for suctioning thetablets 1 at the position of the protruding portion 221 a.

It should be noted that, also in this specific example, the dividingline position aligning device 223 and the protruding portion 221 aconfigure the dividing line direction aligning section. These dividingline position aligning device 223 and the protruding portion 221 acooperate with each other to align the directions of the dividing lines11 of the tablets 1 in a predetermined direction. This will be describedin detail below.

The contact bodies 223 d and 223 e are disposed at the downstream sideof the aligning section 222 and above the carrying belt 221. The contactbodies 223 d and 223 e have portions along the conveyance direction X atthe lateral sides and rotate endlessly. Specifically, the contact bodies223 d and 223 e run in the same direction as the carrying belt 221.Further, the contact bodies 223 d and 223 e are disposed such that thelateral portions of the contact bodies 223 d and 223 e are parallel witheach other and distant from each other, so that the lateral portions cancontact the outer periphery (periphery 103) of the tablet 1. The contactbodies 223 d and 223 e run at different speeds, thereby rotating thetablet 1 which the contact bodies 223 d and 223 e contact. That is, thetablet 1 which is placed on the protruding portion 221 a in a statewhere the face 101 on which the dividing line 11 is provided contactsthe protruding portion 221 a and the direction of the dividing line 11is different from the direction of the protruding portion 221 a, rotatesaround the central axis of the periphery 103.

According to the above-described configuration, because the contactbodies 223 d and 223 e contact the outer periphery (periphery 103) ofthe tablet 1 at their lateral portions, the tablet 1 while beingconveyed by the carrying belt 221 rotates between the pair of contactbodies 223 d and 223 e. That is, the tablet 1 which is placed on theprotruding portion 221 a in a state where the face on which the dividingline 11 is provided contacts the protruding portion 221 a and thedirection of the dividing line 11 is different from the direction of theprotruding portion 221 a, rotates around the central axis of theperiphery 103. As illustrated in FIG. 29, when the dividing line 11 ofthe tablet 1 becomes parallel with the protruding portion 221 a of thecarrying belt 221, the protruding portion 221 a is inserted into thedividing line 11. Whereby, because the protruding portion 221 a comes into locking engagement with the dividing line 11, it is possible toprevent the tablet 1 positioned at the reference position from rotating.

It should be noted that when the dividing line 11 of the tablet 1 is notinserted into the protruding portion 221 a, the suction hole 221 b isnot blocked. In this case, because a force for suctioning the tablet 1is small, the tablet 1 rotates by a friction force between the pair ofcontact bodies 223 d and 223 e. Conversely, when the dividing line 11 ofthe tablet 1 is inserted into the protruding portion 221 a, the suctionhole 221 b is blocked. In this case, because a force for suctioning thetablet 1 becomes great, in cooperation with a force of the protrudingportion 221 a coming into locking engagement with the dividing line 11,it is possible to prevent rotation of the tablet 1 positioned at thereference position more reliably.

Therefore, even when the tablet 1 is conveyed by the carrying belt 221in a state where the dividing line 11 is positioned at variouspositions, the dividing line position aligning device 223 can set thedividing line 11 at a predetermined position (specifically, positionparallel with the protruding portion 221 a) by rotating the tablet 1.Whereby, the lower printing device 44 can perform printing on thetablets 1 in the same way using the dividing line 11 as a reference. Itshould be noted that when the tablet 1 is conveyed by the carryingdevice 22 with the dividing line 11 facing upward, the lower dividingline judging section 622 a judges that “there is no dividing line” forthe tablet 1, and the tablet 1 is returned to the storage device 21 orthe upstream side of the carrying device 22.

Next, a fifth specific example of the printer performing printing alsoon the side having the dividing line 11 will be described below withreference to FIG. 30 and FIG. 31.

In this printer, as illustrated in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, the carryingdevice 22 includes a dividing line position aligning device 223 thataligns the positions of the dividing lines 11 of the tablets 1 alignedby the aligning section 222. The dividing line position aligning device223 includes a placement part 223 g that is disposed along theconveyance direction X so that the tablet 1 is to be placed thereon, afirst carrying belt 223 h that is disposed at one lateral side of theplacement part 223 g, has a portion along the conveyance direction X atthe upper part and rotates endlessly, and a second carrying belt 223 ithat is disposed at the other lateral side of the placement part 223 g,has a portion along the conveyance direction X at the upper part androtates endlessly. It should be noted that, in this specific example,the dividing line position aligning device 223 configures the dividingline direction aligning section.

The placement part 223 g includes a protruding portion 223 j thatprotrudes toward the central portion of the width direction and extendsin the longitudinal direction so as to be inserted into the dividingline 11 of the tablet 1. Suctioning sections 223 k for suctioning thetablet 1 are provided between the placement part 223 g and the carryingbelts 223 h and 223 i. The pair of the carrying belts 223 h and 223 irun at different speeds.

According to the above-described configuration, because the upper partof the pair of carrying belts 223 h and 223 i running at differentspeeds contact the lower face of the tablet 1, the tablet 1 suctioned bythe suctioning section 223 k rotates on the placement part 223 g. Thetablet 1 rotates around the central axis of the periphery, the tablet 1being placed on the protruding portion 223 j, and, as illustrated inFIG. 31, the dividing line 11 of the tablet 1 becomes parallel with theprotruding portion 223 j of the placement part 223 g. At this time, theprotruding portion 223 j is inserted into the dividing line 11. Whereby,because the protruding portion 223 j comes into locking engagement withthe dividing line 11, it is possible to prevent the tablet 1 positionedat the reference position from rotating.

Therefore, even when the tablet 1 is conveyed in a state where thedividing line 11 is positioned at various positions, the dividing lineposition aligning device 223 can position the dividing line 11 in apredetermined position (specifically, position parallel with theprotruding portion 223 j) by rotating the tablet 1. Whereby, the lowerprinting device 44 can perform printing on the tablets 1 in the same wayusing the dividing line 11 as a reference. It should be noted that whenthe tablet 1 is conveyed by the carrying device 22 with the dividingline 11 facing upward, the lower dividing line judging section 622 ajudges that “there is no dividing line” for the tablet 1, and the tablet1 is returned to the storage device 21 or the upstream side of thecarrying device 22.

Next, a sixth specific example of the printer performing printing alsoon the face having the dividing line 11 will be described below withreference to FIG. 32 to FIG. 34. It should be noted that as illustratedin FIG. 32 to FIG. 34, the surface of the tablet 1 of this specificexample is comprised of a first face 101 which is a face facing one side(upper side in FIG. 34), a second face 102 which is a face facing theother side (lower side in FIG. 34) and a cylindrical periphery 103 whichconnects the circumference of the first face 101 and the circumferenceof the second face 102. Further, in the tablet 1 of this specificexample, the dividing line 11 is provided on the first face 101.

In this printer, when the tablet 1 is conveyed by the first conveyingsection 24 while the first face 101 on which the dividing line 11 isprovided faces downward, the lower printing device 45 and the upperprinting device 55 respectively perform printing on the faces 101 and102 of the tablet 1 as described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 32 and FIG. 34, the lower printing device 45prints the first symbol 121 in the first region 111 on one side (leftside in FIG. 32) with respect to the dividing line 11 and prints thesecond symbol 122 in the second region 112 on the other side (right sidein FIG. 32) on the first face 101. This second symbol 122 is a symboldifferent from the first symbol 121. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 33and FIG. 34, the upper printing device 55 prints the second symbol 122in a third region 113 (that is, a region on one side (left side in FIG.33) with respect to a portion 110 which corresponds to the dividing line11 on the first face 101) which corresponds to the first region 111 andprints the first symbol 121 in a fourth region 114 (that is, a region onthe other side (right side in FIG. 33) with respect to the portion 110which corresponds to the dividing line 11 on the first face 101) whichcorresponds to the second region 112 on the second face 102.

Meanwhile, when the tablet 1 is conveyed by the first conveying section24 while the second face 102 on which the dividing line 11 is notprovided faces downward, the lower printing device 45 and the upperprinting device 55 respectively perform printing on the faces 101 and102 of the tablet 1 as described below.

The lower printing device 45 prints the first symbol 121 in the thirdregion 113 and prints the second symbol 122 in the fourth region 114 onthe second face 102. Further, the upper printing device 55 prints thesecond symbol 122 in the first region 111 and prints the first symbol121 in the second region.

According to this configuration, on the tablet 1 on which printing isperformed using this printer, the both symbols of the first symbol 121and the second symbol 122 are printed at either piece when the tablet 1is divided at the position of the dividing line 11.

While, in the printer of this specific example, symbols printed in theregions 111, 112, 113 and 114 are different depending on the directionof the tablet 1 being conveyed by the first conveying section 24, thepresent invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, theprinter may be configured to print the first symbol 121 in the firstregion 111, print the second symbol 122 in the second region 112, printthe second symbol 122 in the third region 113, and print the firstsymbol 121 in the fourth region 114 regardless of the direction of thetablet 1 being conveyed by the first conveying section 24.

It should be noted that while, in this specific example, the dividingline 11 is provided only on one face (the first face 101) of the tablet1, the dividing lines 11 may be provided on the both faces (the firstand the second faces 101 and 102), as illustrated in FIG. 35 to FIG. 37.

Further, while the printer in the above-described embodiments and thespecific examples does not perform printing within the dividing line 11or within the portion 110 which corresponds to the dividing line 11, thepresent invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, theprinter may be configured to perform printing in at least one region ofa region excluding the dividing line 11 on the face facing the one side(for example, the first region 111 and the second region 112 on thefirst face 101 in the sixth specific example), and a region excludingthe portion 110 which corresponds to the dividing line 11 on the facefacing the other side (for example, the third region 113 and the fourthregion 114 on the second face 101 in the sixth specific example), andperform printing within the dividing line 11 and within the portion 110which corresponds to the dividing line 11.

It should be noted that the printer and the tablet of the presentinvention are not limited to the above-described embodiments and theabove-described specific examples, and, of course, can be modified invarious ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1 . . . Tablet-   2 . . . Conveying unit-   3 . . . Housing-   4 . . . First image pickup printing unit-   5 . . . Second image pickup printing unit-   6 . . . Control unit-   11 . . . Dividing line-   23 . . . Conveying device-   43 . . . Lower image pickup device (first image pickup device)-   44 . . . Lower printing device (first printing device)-   54 . . . Upper image pickup device (second image pickup device)-   55 . . . Upper printing device (second printing device)-   62 . . . Control device-   622 a . . . Lower dividing line judging section (first dividing line    judging section)-   622 b . . . Lower printing judging section (first printing judging    section)-   623 . . . Lower checking section (first checking section)-   626 a . . . Upper dividing line judging section (second dividing    line judging section)-   626 b . . . Upper printing judging section (second printing judging    section)-   627 . . . Upper checking section (second checking section)-   629 . . . Dividing line checking section

The invention claimed is:
 1. A printer comprising: a) a conveying devicethat conveys a tablet; b) a first printing device capable of performingprinting on a face facing one side in an orthogonal direction to aconveyance direction of the tablet while being conveyed; c) a secondprinting device capable of performing printing on a face facing theother side in the orthogonal direction of the tablet while beingconveyed; d) wherein the tablet has a groove-shaped dividing line fordividing the tablet on at least one face out of the face facing the oneside and the face facing the other side; e) wherein the first printingdevice can perform printing in a region on the face facing the one sidewhich region excluding the dividing line or a portion which correspondsto the dividing line provided on the face facing the other side; f)wherein the second printing device can perform printing in a region onthe face facing the other side which region excluding the dividing lineor a portion which corresponds to the dividing line provided on the facefacing the one side; g) an aligning section that supplies a plurality oftablets to the conveying device in a state where the plurality oftablets are aligned in the conveyance direction, h) wherein theconveying device comprises a dividing line direction aligning sectionthat is disposed at an upstream side of the first printing device andthe second printing device and that aligns a direction of the dividingline of each of the tablets in a predetermined direction; and i) whereinthe dividing line direction aligning section comprises: 1) a protrusionthat extends in the conveyance direction and that has a cross-sectionalshape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the dividing line ofthe tablet; and 2) a contact body that rotates the tablet around apredetermined axis facing in the orthogonal direction, the tablet beingplaced on the protrusion in a state where, out of the face facing theone side and the face facing the other side, a face on which thedividing line is provided contacts the protrusion and a direction of thedividing line is different from a direction of the protrusion.
 2. Theprinter according to claim 1, further comprising: a first image pickupdevice that picks up an image of the face facing the one side of eachtablet while being conveyed; and a second image pickup device that picksup an image of the face facing the other side of each tablet while beingconveyed, wherein the dividing line direction aligning section rotateseach tablet while being conveyed around a predetermined axis facing inthe orthogonal direction so that the direction of the dividing linebecomes the predetermined direction based on at least one of an imagepickup result of the first image pickup device and an image pick upresult of the second image pickup device.
 3. The printer according toclaim 2, wherein the first printing device prints a first symbol in afirst region on one side with respect to the dividing line or a portionwhich corresponds to the dividing line and prints a second symboldifferent from the first symbol in a second region on the other side onthe face facing the one side of each tablet, and the second printingdevice prints the second symbol in a region corresponding to the firstregion and prints the first symbol in a region corresponding to thesecond region on the face facing the other side of each tablet.